Rate My Professor David Burslem

Professor David Burslem is a forest ecologist and Professor in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Aberdeen, where he serves as the Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Environment and Biodiversity. He holds a BA and a PhD. His previous position was Reader at the University of Aberdeen. Burslem leads a research group investigating various dimensions of forest ecology, conservation, and management. His research examines the mechanisms that generate, maintain, or degrade diversity in ecological communities, with a focus on community dynamics of tropical forest trees and interactions with biotic and abiotic drivers. Key areas include plant–soil interactions, particularly partitioning of soil phosphorus resources and mycorrhizas; biodiversity and biogeochemical cycling in tropical forests, focusing on responses to anthropogenic disturbance and the role of functional and phylogenetic diversity in recovery; mechanisms and functional significance of aluminium accumulation in woody plants; management of non-native invasive plants in the UK and tropical forests using restoration methods; and conservation and restoration of forest biodiversity. As Director, he facilitates interdisciplinary connections across the University’s schools and with external partners to address climate change and biodiversity loss through research and education.